Coronavirus Guidance

CORONAVIRUS GUIDANCE (UPDATED DECEMBER 8, 2020)

The Research Foundation is closely monitoring the latest updates and developments regarding the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). During these uncertain times, coping with our new realities can be difficult, but we want to reassure you that we are working hard to support you and your work during this crisis. The ongoing disruptions have created many challenges and we want to thank each and every one of you for your dedication to the research mission of CUNY while managing your other responsibilities.

As part of our ongoing efforts to provide the most up to date guidance, we have received much appreciated feedback from our community about how we can improve our communications. With this important feedback, we have redesigned our Coronavirus Guidance Page, consolidated our communications to field employees and PIs, and created a short form dedicated to your COVID-19 related questions. This form will help us provide you with guidance while also enabling us to track vital information and identify emerging patterns.

Please note that the rapidly evolving nature of this public health situation necessitates frequent assessment, evaluation and modification of our policies and plans, which are fluid and subject to change at any time.  As always, the Research Foundation is following the recommendations of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the latest information. The Research Foundation is also working closely with CUNY to provide the most up-to-date guidance. To keep current, please check back frequently with this or CUNY’s web page (https://www.cuny.edu/coronavirus/) for additional information and updates.

Research Opportunities

Sponsors have issued announcements on COVID-19-related research grants since the beginning of the pandemic. Most research opportunities are being provided by the Federal government, specifically by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Please refer to Guidance to CUNY Biomedical, Health, Science, and Social Science PIs on COVID-19.
Opportunities are also being provided by Arts and Culture sponsors primarily focused on relief for individuals and organizations that have been economically impacted by the crisis. Please refer to Guidance to Arts and Culture PIs on COVID-19 for additional information.
If you currently have an active NSF grant, and COVID-19 has prevented you from providing research experiences for students, consider asking NSF whether it is willing to provide you with Supplemental Funding for a Virtual REU.
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, has issued guidance to all grants programs in response to COVID-19. Please refer to FAQs for U.S. Department of Education OPE Grants Programs.
Please note that COVID-19-related grant opportunities are available in a significant number of disciplines, including thematic areas where CUNY faculty have some competitive strengths. In addition to medical and scientific research directly related to fighting the virus and its spread throughout the world, other areas include education research projects that contribute to understanding the rapid shifts in education during the crisis and social science research that aims to understand the disruption, reproduction, and deepening of educational inequality caused by the crisis. Please refer to COVID-19-Related Opportunities for CUNY Faculty for a list of these opportunities.
Feel free to contact the Research Foundation of the City University of New York, Office of Award Pre-Proposal Support for guidance on applying for these grants. You can email us at apps@rfcuny.org or Explore Our Pre-Award Resources.

Information For Principal Investigators Updated

Information For Field Staff Updated

Remote Work Guidelines

Campus Reopening Plans Updated

CUNY colleges have developed new access procedures for working on site. Please check with individual college websites below for campus and research reopening plans. Before reporting to work at any campus, office and facility throughout the CUNY system, all Faculty and staff, including RF staff, must:

Complete mandatory COVID-19 training. Please maintain a copy of the certificate of completion for your records.
Engage in daily health screening using the Everbridge Health Screening Application. To access the Everbridge App you must follow the instructions for visitors (i.e., download the app, then open the link in the email on your phone).

In addition, CUNY has arranged for priority testing for Faculty and staff (including RF staff) who report to work ON SITE. RF employees must go to the HR Department of the campus at which they report to work to obtain a letter to bring with them, along with their CUNY ID, to one of the testing sites listed on CUNY’s website.

External Resources

Equity and Inclusion

We want to take this opportunity to remind our diverse RFCUNY community that we are an organization that takes pride in its welcoming environment and unwavering promotion of the values of equity and inclusion. These challenging times are not an excuse to behave any differently towards those with who we serve, live and work. Any staff who experience discrimination of any kind are urged to speak with RFCUNY’s Office of Human Resources.

Stopping The Spread

What You Need to Know Now About COVID-19

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) is circulating widely throughout New York City, sickening thousands and putting hospitals under extreme stress. To fight the spread and protect ourselves and each other, the city’s Health Department advises that everyone should act on the assumption that they are exposed to the virus and susceptible to getting sick and spreading it further.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness with symptoms that can range from mild (a sore throat or fatigue) to a severe condition such as pneumonia. Most people will not need medical attention for their symptoms, and some will have no symptoms at all. But that doesn’t mean they can’t spread the virus. All New Yorkers need to monitor their health carefully so that together we can slow the spread and protect those at higher risk, along with our health care workers who are at the front lines of our battle against the virus.

If you are sick, you must stay home. Only seek health care if you are very sick. Even if you are not sick, stay home as much as you can: work from home, study from home, avoid all unnecessary interactions.

How it spreads

COVID-19 is transmitted mainly between people who are in close contact with each other (within about 6 feet). The virus is commonly spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or be inhaled into the lungs. The symptoms may appear as soon as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
Public health experts are still learning about the mechanisms and rates of spread but it is believed that people who are experiencing symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, high fever and difficulty breathing are most likely to transmit the virus to others. However, even asymptomatic people – who may account for nearly one in five cases – can transmit the virus. That helps explain why it is known to be spreading between people with no link to another positive case.
The virus can also live on surfaces as long as several days and be transmitted when someone touches an infected surface and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes without washing or sanitizing their hands thoroughly.

Who is most at risk

People at most risk for severe cases of COVID-19 are those over 50 or who have other health conditions, including chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system. However, public health officials stress that anyone, including young people in perfect health, can get the virus and become severely ill—and spread it to more vulnerable family members and contacts.
People with regular close contact with someone who has or could have COVID-19 are also at higher risk. This includes people who live in the same home, caretakers who work in the home or sexual partners.

How to protect yourself—and everyone else

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to help stop the spread of germs and protect yourself against other infections.
Get the flu vaccine; it will not protect you from coronavirus but will help protect you against the flu which has similar symptoms to this coronavirus.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing --- do not use your hands.
Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
Stay home. Even if you are healthy and have no sign of illness, go out only for essential tasks, such as getting groceries or supplies for medical care. Use delivery services when possible.
When you do go out, practice “social distancing” and take it seriously. Try to stay at least 6 feet from others in public spaces. Avoid crowded areas of stores. And of course, don’t shake hands or hug. Try waving.
Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and objects, particularly your cell phone. When you go out, be careful about touching public surfaces like doorknobs and shopping baskets—and sanitize frequently when you do. The science varies on how long COVID-19 lives on various kinds of surfaces but the risk of becoming infected from packages at the grocery store or from delivered packages is, in general, thought to be relatively low. Here’s one expert’s assessment.

LATEST ON MASKS — EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, APRIL 17: Gov. Cuomo has issued an executive order requiring all New Yorkers to wear face coverings in public when social distancing isn’t possible. The order is intended to reduce the spread of infection on public transit, in stores, on crowded sidewalks and anyplace else where you are likely to encounter others. In addition to manufactured or homemade masks, acceptable coverings include scarves and bandannas. Wearing a face covering was previously a recommendation from city, state and federal health authorities, both to reduce the chances of being infected and to protect others if you are infected and don’t know it. However, they continue to stress that a face mask does not make you invincible and is no substitute for the primary precautions: staying at home, especially if you are sick; social distancing if you must go out; washing your hands frequently. For more on face masks and instructions for making your own at home, visit this CDC page.

What to do if you were in close contact with someone who has or may have the virus

If you were in direct contact with someone who is a confirmed case or is waiting for confirmation, you should self-quarantine for 14 days from the last day of your contact. Self-quarantine means staying inside and isolating yourself as much as possible. Use food delivery services, which now offer grocery and food orders left on doorsteps to avoid physical contact between delivery workers and customers.
Other requirements of self-quarantining: No visitors, including housekeepers and dog walkers; avoid sharing household items; sanitize “high-touch” surfaces—countertops, toilets, keyboards, doorknobs—every day.
If you have symptoms during the quarantine period, seek medical advice.
If you learn of or come in contact with a colleague who suspects exposure to coronavirus or displays symptoms, ask them to contact their health care provider.